Apparatus for forming sheet metal



March 6, 1945. H. L. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHEET-METAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1942 I NYENTO R 7 'March 6, 1945. H L JOHNSON 2,370,666

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SHEET-METAL Filed Sept. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS roa FORMING sneer METAL I 7 Herbert L. Johnson, Peabody, Mass.

Application September 5, 1942, Serial No. 451,450

- 9 Claims. (ct 153-26) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) My invention relates generally to apparatus for forming sheet metal and in particular to a machine for turning internal flanges in a circular sheet metal blank, i. e., flanges formed at the edge of a circular opening within the blank.

The object of my invention is to provide a new type of machine for forming internal flanges which can be adjusted within the physical limitsof the machine itself to accommodate any size of sheet metal blank and is capable of turning any size of internal flange in the blank.

My machine differs from the conventional type of machine in which the blank is spun to form the flange in that there are no forms to make. Likewise, my machine has an advantage over the type of machine utilizing dies. In the latter type, a different size die is needed for each size of flanged opening that is to be formed, whereas in my machine internal flanged openings of various diameters may be formed by simple and rapid adjustments of the operating mechanism.

These and other advantages of my machine over present known machines for forming flanges will become apparent from the detailed description to follow and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by the same reference characters in the various views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine; v

Fig. 2 is a plan view; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the principal operating parts which are used in forming the internal flange showing the position of the forming tool and circular blank before and after the internal flange is formed.

Referring now to the drawings, a supporting base for my improved machine is indicated at ID. A horizontal bed plate II is rigidly secured at one end to the base l and the other side is supported by a vertical leg l2.

Mounted for sliding movement over plate II in ways I 3 and I4 is a plate member I5 and the latter may be flxed in any position along plate II by means of a collared locking stud l6 which passes through a slot ll formed in the plate l5 and threads into plate ll. Plate I5 is provided with a pair of guide rolls l8 and I9. Also carried by plate member I5 is an L-shaped bracket upon which is supported a hold-down roll 2|. The bracket 20 may be adjusted relative to plate l5 by means of the slotted Portion 22 formed therein and is flxed in position by collared stud naled in the base Ill.

23 which passes through slot 22 and threads into plate l5. Roll 2| may be adjusted vertically by means of a locking stud 24 which passes through a slotted portion 25 in the vertically extending portion of bracket 20.

Another plate member 26 is mounted for sliding movement over plate H in ways 21 and 28. The position of plate 26 may be adjusted relative to plate It by means of a screw 29 which threads into a bracket 30. the latter being fixed to plate 26. Screw 29 may be turned by means of beveled gears 3| and 32, shaft 33 and hand wheel 34. Plate member 26 is also provided with guide rolls 35 and 33.

The base I0 is provided with an upwardly ex tending neck portion 31 which is turned so that it overhangs a medial portion of the machine. The neck 31 is provided with a threaded bore 38 for receiving a screw 39. One end of screw 39 is provided with a crank 40 and the other end carries a bearing member 4| which receives a stub shaft 42. A top roll 43 is keyed to one end of shaft 42 and a link member 44 is secured to the other'end by means of a flexible joint 45. Link member 44 is keyed to and slidable within the tubular portion of another link member 46, the latter being joined to a shaft 41 by flexible joint 48. This combination of parts provides a flexible shafting to allow vertical movement of hearing member 4| and hence roll 43.

A bottom roll 49 is located below roll 43 and is connected to a drive shaft 50 suitably jour- Shaft 50 is adapted to be driven by any suitable motor means (not illustramd) and power for rotating the shaft 41 is transmitted from shaft 50 through gears 5| and The base In is provided with a channel 54 along which a block member 55 is moved by means of a screw 58 vwhich is suitably journaled in a bracket 53 secured to base l0. Screw 56 is turned by means of bevel gears 51 and 58 meshing at right angles. Gear 58 is keyed to a shaft 59 and handwheel 60 is provided to turn shaft 59.

A vertically disposed shaft 6| including a shouldered portion 63 is provided for supporting a rounded flanging tool 62, the latter being gradually reduced in diameter at the upper end and free to rotate upon shaft 6|. Shaft BI is provided with a threaded lower portion which threads into and out of the block 55. The shaft 6| may be turned by a hand wheel 64 which serves to raise or lower the tool 62 through a. substantially rectangular opening 65 in the bed plate ll.

ways l3 and I4 until guide rolls l8 and i9 also en- Gauge means 61 consisting of a graduated scale and a pointer connected by a rod 88 to block 55 may be provided to determine the distance between tool 62 and top roll 43 as the flange is turned.

Operation My machine operates in the following manner:

Referring now in particular to Fig. 3, a circular blank 66 is placed upon the bed plate i i and plate" member 26 is then so adjusted in ways 21 and 28 that with the guide rolls I and 36 engaging the edge of the blank 68, the top and bottom rolls 43 and 49 will contact the top and bottom faces of blank 68 at the point at which the flange is to be turned. The top roll 43 is now screwed down until the blank 66 is gripped between the top roll 43 and the bottom roll 49.

Next, the plate member I5 is moved along the gage the edges of the blank 66 and is fixed in such position by a screw down on locking stud it. Hold down roll 2i is then adjusted until it also engages the top face of blank 66.

At this time, tool 62 occupies a position as in- 2:; dicated by the broken lines in Fig. 3, the blank 66 also being shown by broken lines before the flange is formed.

The top and bottom rolls 43 and 49 are then set in rotation by applying turning power to shafts 41 and 50 which causes the blank 66 to rotate about its center, the blank having been centered by the edgewise engaging guide rolls l8, l9 and 35, 36.

Next the tool 62 is moved relative to rolls 43 2. and 49 by means of hand wheel 60 until the distance between the portion of tool 62 having the largest diameter and the end face of roll 43 is substantially equal to the thickness of the blank 66.

The tool 62 is now moved upwardly by means of hand wheel 64 until the curved surface of the tool contacts the rotating blank 65 causing the tool to also rotate. Further upward movement of tool 62 will cause the desired flange to be formed between the end face of roll 43 and the surface of tool 62.

In conclusion I wish it to be understood that the invention presented by this application and defined in the appended claims is not to be limited to the specific structure shown and described but only as made necessary by the prior art.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A machine for hanging a circular opening in a blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to serve as a support for said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means for centering said blank to permit rotation thereof on an axis through the center of the opening therein, means for continuously driving said blank in rotation, roll means engaging a face of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, a flange forming tool, and means for sup orting said tool for transverse movement through the openings in said bed plate and blank to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of said roll means as said blank is rotated.

2. A machine for hanging a circular opening 75 in a circular blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to serve as a support for said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means engaging the periphery of said blank to center said blank for rotation, roll means engaging a face of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving said blank in rotation on said stationary bed plate, a flange forming tool, and means for sup porting said tool for transverse movement through the openings in said blank and bed plate to dense the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of said roll means as said blank is rotated.

3. A machine for hanging a circular opening in a blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to serve as a support for said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means for centerin said blank to permit rotation thereof on an axis through the center of the opening therein, means for continuously driving said blank in rotation, roll means engaging a face of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, a rotatable hanging tool, the hang-- ing surface of said tool being a surface of revolution, the radial distance of said surface from its axis of revolution being variable, and means for supporting said tool for movement along its axis of revolution through the openings in said blank and bed plate to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of said roll means as said blank is rotated.

4. A machine for hanging a circular opening in a blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to support said blank with'the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means for centering said blank to permit rotation thereof on an axis through the center of the opening therein, roll means engaging a face of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving said roll means to thereby frictionally drive said blank in rotation, a flange forming tool, and means for supporting said tool for transverse movement through the openings in said blank and bed plate to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of said roll means as said blank is rotated.

5. A machine for hanging a circular opening in a circular blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to support said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means engaging the periphery of said blank so as to center said blank for rotation, roll means for engaging a face of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving said roll means to thereby frictionally drive said blank in rotation, a hanging tooLiand means for supporting said tool for transverse movement through the openings in said blank and bed plate to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of said roll means as said blank is rotated.

6. A machine for hanging a circular opening in a circular blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to support said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means engaging the periphery of said blank so as to center said blank for rotation, top and bottom rolls for engaging respectively the top and bottom faces of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving at least one of said rolls to thereby frictionally drive said blank in rotation, a flange forming tool, and means for supporting said tool for transverse movement through the openings in said blank and bed plate to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of one of said rolls as said blank is rotated.

7. A machine fOr flanging a circular opening in a blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to support said blank. with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, means for centering said blank to permit rotation thereof on an axis through the center of the opening therein, roll means engaging a face of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving said roll means to thereby frictionally .drive said blank in rotation, arotatable flange forming tool, the flanging surface of said tool being a surface of revolution, the radial distance of said surface from its axis of revolution being variable, and means for supporting said tool for movement along its axis of revolution through the openings in said blank and bed plate to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of said roll means as said blank is rotated.

8. A machine for fianging a, circular opening in a circular blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to support said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, roller means engaging the periphery of said blank so as to center said blank for rotation, top and bottom rolls for engaging respectively the top and bottom faces of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving at least one of said rolls to thereby frlctionally drive said blank in rotation, a rotatable flanging tool, the flanging surface of said tool being a surface of revolution, the radial distance of said surface from its axis of revolution being variable, and means for supporting said tool for movement along its axis of revolution through the openings in said blank and bed plate toflange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of one of said rolls as said blank is rotated. Y

. 9. A machine for flanging a circular opening in a circular blank, said machine comprising a stationary bed plate having an opening therein and adapted to support said blank with the openings in said blank and bed plate in alignment, a pair of support members, a plurality of roller means journaled in each of said support members, said members being slidably movable over said bed plate towards and for engagement of the rollers journaled thereon with opposite sides of the periphery of said blank to center the latter for rotation on an axis through the center of the opening in said blank, top and bottom rolls for engaging respectively the top and bottom faces of said blank at the opening in said bed plate, means for continuously driving at' least one of said rolls to thereby frictionally drive said blank in rotation, a rotatable flanging tool, and means for supporting said tool for transverse movement through the openings in said blank and bed plate to flange the portion of said blank adjacent the opening therein against the end face of one of said rolls as said blankis rotated.

HERBERT L. JOHNSON. 

